Zipp 303 Firecrest Tubular Rear Wheel 24 spokes 10/11 Speed (Campagnolo) Black Decal
The 303 is a wheel you can never count out. In 2010, it became not only the first carbon wheel to win a major cobbled classic, it won the two biggest classics: Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders. The wheel is light, utterly dependable and aerodynamic. And it’s just gotten even better.
Our exploration of the 303’s wider rim led to the Firecrest® technology. And now that development has come full circle with the 303 Firecrest. The new wheel features Firecrest’s signature shaping designed to optimize both halves of the wheel, which creates a rim that is significantly faster and also much easier to handle in crosswinds.
At just 1,255 grams, the weight of the new 303 is virtually unchanged from its predecessor and remains one of the lightest carbon wheelsets anywhere. Its 45 mm-deep rim outperforms much deeper rims with a traditional V-shaped cross-section. And yet, because Firecrest technology allows us to manipulate the wheel’s center of pressure, the new 303 handles like a box-section rim. It’s ultra-stable, and suitable for even the windiest days.
And because the 303’s new 26.45 mm-wide brake track (at center) has been optimized for wider tires, the ride quality is better than ever. Our Tangente latex tubular tires, available in 21 mm and 23 mm, are the perfect match for the rims.
The new wheels retain all the small details that make Zipp wheels what they are. Exposed spoke nipples sit in the aerodynamic shadow of the rims, keeping serviceability simple without compromising speed. And our signature ABLC™ rim dimples squeeze every last second of performance possible.
To complete the package, Zipp® has refined its venerable 88/188 hubset, reshaping the hub body and pushing the non-drive-side flange and bearing out by 7.5 mm on the rear hub to increase overall stiffness and strength. The wheelsets come with two decal options, the stealthy Beyond Black or the distinctive Classic White decals. Both decal options feature black anodized hubs, black spokes and black nipples.
Note: Zipp wheels for model year 2013, which began shipping in October 2012, are compatible with cassettes of up to 11-speed to work with all modern drivetrains.
The new Firecrest rim design has been proven durable and stiff enough in extensive laboratory and field testing that a separate cyclocross (CX) wheelset is no longer necessary.
Product note:
The wide profile of the 303 Firecrest is crucial to Zipp’s revolutionary Firecrest technology used to create wheels with superior aerodynamics as well as improved stability and handling.
The rear 303 Firecrest, however, may present some fitment issues for a small number of road and triathlon frames. The clearance between the chainstay and the rim may not be adequate to avoid contact between each other when ridden under load.
We urge customers who plan on riding the 303 Firecrest to test the wheel within the frame in which they intend to ride it, under normal riding and road conditions, before purchasing. Clearance within individual frames of the same size, from the same manufacturer, may vary. That is why it is imperative that you test the wheel in your frame, or in the frame that you are considering purchasing.
Customers who run into this fitment issue may select any other spoked wheel within the Zipp lineup as an alternative,including the 404 Firecrest with its narrower aero-width profile.
Below is a list of known frames that may present this issue. This list will be updated if this fitment issue is discovered elsewhere.
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2012 Specialized Tarmac SL4
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Specialized S-Works McLaren Venge
Zipp 303 Firecrest Tubular Rear Wheel 24 spokes 10/11 Speed (Campagnolo) Black Decal features
Weight: 705g
Rim Used: 285v4
Hub Used: 188
Rim Depth: 45mm
Brake Track Width (center): 26.45mm
Max Width: 28.50mm
Nominal Tire Bed Width: 17.98mm
Spoke Count: 24
Spoke Length Non-Drive: 258mm
Spoke Pattern Non-Drive: Cross
Spoke Pattern Drive: Radial
Spoke Length Drive: 246mm
Track Adaptable: No
Dimpled Surface: Yes
Ceramic Bearing: After-market
External Nipples: yes
Wheels User Manual [pdf]
ABLC™ (Aerodynamic Boundary Layer Control)
Advanced Boundary Layer Control (ABLC) refers to the patented and instantly recognizable dimpled pattern found on all of our carbon rims. ABLC smoothes airflow across the rim's surface and is tailored to every model from the 202 to the Super-9 Disc. The third-generation of ABLC has up to four times more dimples than before.
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VCLC™ (Visco-Elastic Constrained Layer Control)
Visco-Elastic Constrained Layer Control (VCLC) uses a vibration-absorbing material sandwiched between layers of rigid carbon laminate in the rim. When the wheel receives an impact from the road, much of the shock is absorbed by the VCLC system, delivering a 10% reduction in vibration.
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Carbon Bridge™
Carbon Bridge uses a Kevlar® thread in a co-axial helix stitch to bind sheets of carbon to each other in our tubular rims. Because Kevlar is 350% more impact resistant than carbon, it can disperse shock more evenly throughout the carbon laminate, making for a rim that is practically bulletproof. In particular, Carbon Bridge reduces the vulnerability of the rim's tire bed, the area most susceptible to damage from impact.
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88/188 Hub Technology
Every aspect of our 88 and 188 hubs sets a new benchmark. The standard steel bearings are the roundest in the industry. The 17mm axle is the stiffest of any road hub we've tested. The wire EDM-cut hub internals are the most precise. When it comes to precision and performance, there's really no comparison.
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Buy Zipp 303 Firecrest Tubular Rear Wheel 24 spokes 10/11 Speed (Campagnolo) Black Decal online at Fatbirds